Many Military Families Prefer Financial Professionals with a Military Background 

When it comes to managing money, making big decisions about benefits, or preparing for major life transitions, military and veteran families face a unique financial landscape. From frequent relocations and deployments to navigating complex veteran benefits and planning life after service, the financial lives of service members and their families often look very different from those in the civilian world. That’s why more and more military families are seeking out financial professionals who understand their world not just on paper—but through lived experience. 

And that’s one of the reasons why the Military Qualified Financial Planner – MQFP® Certification Program was created. 

Shared Experience Builds Trust 

Trust is one of the most important components in any professional relationship, especially when it involves something as personal as your finances. For military families, that trust can come more easily when their financial professional has also worn the uniform or supported someone who has. 

When you work with a financial professional who has served or who has been a military spouse, you’re working with someone who: 

• Has a deep understanding and appreciation for the pace and unpredictability of military life 
• Knows the emotional and financial toll of deployments and PCS moves 
• Has personally navigated military and veteran benefits like BAH, TSP, SBP, VA disability, and more 
• Is fluent in military language—from LES to DD214s to all the other acronyms military and veteran families encounter so often they become part of our everyday speech 

This shared experience is more than just comforting. It leads to better advice because it comes from a place of empathy and direct knowledge. 

Military culture is built on service, sacrifice, and shared commitment. When your financial professional understands the chain of command, the stress of being geo-bachelor, or the impact of back-to-back deployments on a family’s stability, they bring more than technical skills to the table. They bring compassion, comprehension, and a natural understanding of the nuances of military pay and benefits. That connection builds rapport quickly, fostering long-term relationships rooted in mutual respect. 

In addition, military-connected professionals often have first-hand insight into the emotional side of financial decision-making. They know how hard it can be to save on an E-4 salary, how stressful it is to move kids in the middle of the school year, and how tough it is to think about survivor benefits while preparing for deployment. This emotional intelligence—grounded in personal experience—helps financial professionals build a stronger bond with the families they serve. 

The Complexity of Military Money 

Military pay and benefits are not simple. Even something as basic as understanding a Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) can be a hurdle for someone without military experience. Add in special pays, allowances, special tax rules, housing transitions, and GI Bill benefits, and you begin to see why traditional financial education often falls short. 

Financial professionals with military backgrounds have usually walked these paths themselves. They understand: 

• The nuances of pay scales and allowances 
• The tradeoffs between the Survivor Benefit Plan and life insurance 
• The rules around the Blended Retirement System 
• How to optimize VA benefits 
• The impact of frequent moves on home buying decisions 
• The challenges of career transitions and military retirement planning 
• The implications of early separation, medical retirement, and post-9/11 GI Bill transfers 

They also know how to plan for the “what-ifs.” What if you’re deployed and can’t handle the family finances? What if your spouse wants to go back to school? What if you’re retiring but still have kids in high school? These are not abstract scenarios—they’re daily realities for many service families. 

Many financial professionals without military ties may overlook critical timing considerations, such as when to start terminal leave, how to bridge the gap between military and civilian health insurance, or how to choose a second career that preserves VA disability benefits. The ability to anticipate and explain these issues helps military families make smarter, more informed decisions. 

Why the MQFP® Certification Requires a Military Background 

We know that military families value authenticity and shared experiences. That’s why one of the core requirements for earning the MQFP® Certification is a verified military connection. All MQFP® professionals are either: 

• Veterans  
• Active-duty service members 
• Military spouses 
• Prior spouses 

This requirement isn’t just symbolic. It ensures that every financial guide who carries the MQFP® designation has walked in the same boots—or beside them. 

We didn’t make this decision lightly. We did it because we listened to the families we serve. Time and again, we heard the same message: “We feel more comfortable with someone who gets our world.” 

We also know that experience alone isn’t enough. That’s why MQFP® certificants must successfully complete rigorous examination in military-specific financial topics, including: 

• Thrift Savings Plan strategies 
• Military tax benefits and filing nuances 
• Service-connected disability ratings and compensation 
• TRICARE and healthcare options 
• Survivor benefits and legacy planning 
• Transition readiness and veteran entrepreneurship 

The MQFP® recommended course materials are designed to give professionals a deep, structured understanding of these topics, building on their personal experience to offer exceptional guidance. We also emphasize ethical conduct, ongoing education, and community service, all core values that resonate strongly within the military community. 

It’s Not Just About Empathy. It’s About Results. 

While shared experience builds rapport, it also improves outcomes. Military families who work with military-informed financial professionals often: 

• Get advice that’s more relevant to their specific situation 
• Avoid the common financial pitfalls unique to military life 
• Make more confident decisions about benefits, retirement, and transitions 
• Feel understood and respected throughout the planning process 

For example, a military financial professional might know from experience that: 

• Buying a home just before PCS season can create financial stress 
• The timing of military retirement may impact TRICARE options 
• Overlooking state tax advantages can cost thousands 
• Ignoring VA loan entitlement restoration rules can impact future home purchases 

And they might also recognize opportunities: 

• Using Career Skills Programs to build a bridge to civilian employment 
• Timing separation to avoid a break in healthcare coverage for your college-aged children 
• Strategizing the use of SGLI and VGLI benefits for family protection 

In a culture where resilience and preparation are paramount, MQFPs are well-positioned to offer proactive strategies and timely advice. They often incorporate a mission-first mindset, helping families stay focused on long-term goals despite short-term disruptions. That mindset shift in your financial professional can be transformative. 

Looking Ahead: Empowering Military Financial Confidence 

The financial challenges facing today’s military families are real—but so are the opportunities. With the right guide, military and veteran families can build wealth, reduce stress, and make confident financial decisions that align with their values and goals. 

Military families are resilient. They are mobile and mission-driven but often stretched thin. They deserve professionals who understand those challenges and are prepared to help them navigate with clarity and strength. 

Financial empowerment in the military community isn’t just about spreadsheets and savings plans. It’s about peace of mind. It’s about knowing your spouse will be okay if something happens during a deployment. It’s about making the most of your benefits, not leaving money on the table. It’s about retiring with dignity and confidence, not confusion and doubt. 

At MQFP.org, we believe that military families deserve financial professionals who get it. That’s why we built a certification program designed specifically for them. And that’s why we will always require a military connection to earn the MQFP® mark. 

Because when it comes to money, mission matters. And so does trust. 

The MQFP® Network: Built for You 

When you search for a financial professional with the MQFP designation, you know you’re getting more than technical competence. You’re getting a guide who understands the mission. MQFP® professionals are: 

• Trained in military-specific financial knowledge 
• Experienced with the emotional and logistical realities of military life 
• Committed to serving with integrity and cultural competence 

MQFP® professionals include: 

• Military financial coaches helping enlisted families avoid predatory lending
• Military financial counselors guiding families through crisis situations 
• Veteran investment advisers who help retirees manage and maximize pensions, VA benefits, and Thrift Savings Plan accounts 
• Military spouses offering financial planning from a dual-career, dual-service perspective 

Some MQFPs specialize in helping wounded warriors and their caregivers. Others assist transitioning service members with setting up small businesses or work in the nonprofit community. Many serve the National Guard and Reserve communities. Our network of professionals is as diverse as the military itself. 

This diversity in practice means there is an MQFP® for every stage of military life—from boot camp to retirement, from the first PCS to finally settling down in that dream home you always wanted. Whether you need budgeting help, investment guidance, insurance reviews, or transition planning, someone in the MQFP® network has the right experience to work with you. 

Ready to find your financial guide? 

Use our Find an MQFP® Directory to connect with a certified professional who understands military life—because they’ve lived it, too!